Scoundrel: History's Forgotten Villains

KAST MEDIA | Jason and Carissa Weiser
  • 4.8 (1.1K)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Scoundrel: History's Forgotten Villains

History consists of heroes and villains (and, I suppose everything in between)... but it's usually the villains who are the most interesting: Their flaws, their quirks, the voids in their hearts that force them to do the unthinkable. These are the characters that fascinate us, that pull us in, that compel us to watch and don’t let us look away. And these are the characters that Scoundrel: History’s Forgotten Villains is all about. Scoundrel, is a new bi-weekly anthology podcast from Kast Media and the award winning creators of Myths & Legends, that tells the stories of the rapscallions through time who were just a little more adept at hiding their evil from historians than others. By joining them on their treacherous journeys, we not only learn about what makes them tick, but more importantly, the times that created them. Sidney Gottlieb, George Remus, Thomas Blood, James McClintock. They’ve all done horrible things...on varying scales. If there’s anything we can salvage from their misdeeds and incalculable human suffering, it’s the opportunity to use them to elucidate the times they’ve lived… so that we can better understand ourselves.

  1. 02/24/2023

    Wang Ti: The Icarus of Beijing

    Born in Dalian province, China, Wang Ti always had her sights on becoming a fixture in the elite circles of Beijing aristocracy. Her place as the wife of a once star player on a former Chinese Super League champion team gave her access to the who’s who, but Wang Ti wanted more than just access, she desired to BE the who’s who, by any means necessary. The 2008 Olympics gave her a golden ticket to the top in the form of Xiao Qin, that year’s gold medalist in the Pommel Horse. Known by many names including “The Prince of the Pommel Horse” and “The Pony God” Xiao Qin’s victory on China’s home stage sprung him to international fame. At a fateful wedding reception, Wang Ti and The Pony God crossed paths, and she leveraged her cunning and his national stardom in the wake of the Olympics to enter the upper echelon of Chinese elite society through deception and trickery. One slip of the tongue in a meeting saw her assume the role as the de-facto luxury goods broker for Beijing’s elite athletes and socialites, but a sinister twist of fate landed her life in prison. While her story is recent, it seems that history has already swept the devious deeds of Wang Ti under the carpet in hopes to be forgotten, but we won’t let that happen! Listen to Scoundrel ad-free, with bonus content at Amazon Music! Check it out at https://KastMedia.com/KastPlus -- Sponsor: Talkspace: To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com, and use code SCOUNDREL to get $100 off of your first month and show your support for the show.

    37 min

  2. 02/09/2023

    Hetty Green: The Witch of Wall Street

    At the turn of the 20th century, Hetty Green was possibly the richest woman in America. She outsmarted the men of Wall Street at their own game, amassing a fortune that, today, would be worth billions. So, with all that money, why did she die in in squalor, wearing threadbare clothes, alienated from everyone she knew both personally and professionally, with the moniker of "The Witch of Wall Street?"Today, we tell the story of Hetty Green, and explore whether she was a monster who pinched pennies to the point that her son lost a leg because she refused to pay for medical care, or a tragic tale of what happens when money takes the place of love in someone’s life. Listen to Scoundrel ad-free, with bonus content at Amazon Music! Check it out at https://KastMedia.com/KastPlus-- Thank you to our sponsor: Talkspace: To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com, and use code SCOUNDREL to get $100 off of your first month and show your support for the show.

    53 min
  3. Matthew Hopkins: Witchfinder General

    01/26/2023

    Matthew Hopkins: Witchfinder General

    In 1645, the English Civil War caused a great divide in England - on both sides, the destruction, violence and famine were all blamed on malevolent witches, cursing towns and villages all throughout the countryside to fulfill their pacts with the devil. Thankfully, King Charles I endorsed a duo of witch-hunters, led by Matthew Hopkins to identify and condemn as many accused witches as they could lay eyes on, leading to national and international fame and infamy. Over their careers, Hopkins and his partner John Stearne torturously forced confessions and sent more people to the gallows than all witch-hunters for the prior 160 years combined, and Hopkins’ book ‘The Discovery of Witches’ eventually became the inspiration for the Salem Witch Trials when it arrived on American shores. History may have forgotten about Matthew Hopkins’ insidious influence, but we sure haven’t! Listen to Scoundrel ad-free, with bonus content, at KastMedia.com/KastPlus Listen to Scoundrel ad-free at Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min
  4. Pearl and James O'Dell: The Honeymoon Murderers

    01/11/2023

    Pearl and James O'Dell: The Honeymoon Murderers

    In January of 1920, as their locomotive headed into Rochester, New York, a group of brakemen happened to spot a corpse lying in a nearby ditch. After a quick police investigation, authorities were able to point their fingers at a rather unusual couple of culprits: A married couple - Pearl and James O'Dell.  Nicknamed "The Honeymoon Murderers," their strange motive, method and mayheim splashes its way all over national papers and popular culture...until time washed their story away.  Join us as we bring them back to life and shed light on their human tragedy.    Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:  TalkSpace You'll get $100 off your first month at Talkspace.com and use code: Scoundrel.    Listen to Scoundrel ad-free, with bonus content, at KastMedia.com/KastPlus Listen to Scoundrel ad-free, with bonus content at Amazon Music             See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    48 min
  5. Cattle Annie & Little Britches: Teen Girl Old West Outlaws

    12/28/2022

    Cattle Annie & Little Britches: Teen Girl Old West Outlaws

    They were two of the most feared outlaws in the Wild West. Known for their crack shots, and overall disregard of Oklahoma law, their names were on most wanted lists from Alda to Tulsa County.  Oh, and the kicker? They were two teenage girls. The world may have forgotten about Cattle Annie and Little Britches, but we sure haven't!  Listen to Scoundrel ad-free, with bonus content, at KastMedia.com/KastPlus Listen to Scoundrel ad-free, with bonus content at Amazon Music       See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min
  6. Alferd Packer: Colorado Cannibal

    12/14/2022

    Alferd Packer: Colorado Cannibal

    On April 16, 1874, a desperate and frostbitten man wrapped in rags wandered into a basecamp in the frosty Colorado San Juan Mountains. Famished and half-dead, soldiers gathered around to quickly feed the poor guy. As he regained strength, Alferd Packer quickly threaded together a story about how he impossibly survived the winter stranded deep in the unforgiving mountains. His story... would be one giant lie. The truth, as it slowly revealed itself, involved unspeakable acts of violence, murder and perhaps most harrowing, cannibalism. History may have overlooked the disturbing true tales of Alferd Packer, but we sure haven't!    Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:  Aura Frames This holiday season, listeners can save on the perfect gift and get up to $30 off Aura’s best-selling frames. Just go to auraframes.com/SCOUNDREL   The Jordan Harbinger Show Check out jordanharbinger.com/start for some episode recommendations, OR search for The Jordan Harbinger Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.     Listen to Scoundrel ad-free, with bonus content, at KastMedia.com/KastPlus Listen to Scoundrel ad-free, with bonus content at Amazon Music   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    53 min
  7. Introducing Kast Plus!

    12/06/2022

    Introducing Kast Plus!

    For ad-free versions of Scoundrel and a bunch of great Kast shows, just go to kastmedia.com/kastplus.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 min
  8. Franziska Schanzkowska: Fake Anastasia

    11/30/2022

    Franziska Schanzkowska: Fake Anastasia

    On July 17, 1918, Nicholas II, Czar of Russia and his entire family were ushered into a dark basement where they were all killed by Bolshevik revolutionary gunmen. But people around the world prayed that perhaps the legend was true. That his 17-year-old daughter Anastasia Romanov survived the massacre. Well, a Polish woman for several decades preyed upon those false hopes and deviously masqueraded as the late Grand Duchess for sympathy, fame and worst of all money. The world may have forgotten about Franziska Schanzkowska, but we sure haven't,   Special Thanks To Our Sponsors:  Aura Frames This holiday season, listeners can save on the perfect gift and get up to $30 off Aura’sbest-selling frames. Just go to auraframes.com/SCOUNDREL.   The Jordan Harbinger Show Check out jordanharbinger.com/start for some episode recommendations, OR search for The Jordan Harbinger Show!    Listen to Scoundrel ad-free, with bonus content, at KastMedia.com/KastPlus Listen to Scoundrel ad-free, with bonus content at Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    48 min
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History consists of heroes and villains (and, I suppose everything in between)... but it's usually the villains who are the most interesting: Their flaws, their quirks, the voids in their hearts that force them to do the unthinkable. These are the characters that fascinate us, that pull us in, that compel us to watch and don’t let us look away. And these are the characters that Scoundrel: History’s Forgotten Villains is all about. Scoundrel, is a new bi-weekly anthology podcast from Kast Media and the award winning creators of Myths & Legends, that tells the stories of the rapscallions through time who were just a little more adept at hiding their evil from historians than others. By joining them on their treacherous journeys, we not only learn about what makes them tick, but more importantly, the times that created them. Sidney Gottlieb, George Remus, Thomas Blood, James McClintock. They’ve all done horrible things...on varying scales. If there’s anything we can salvage from their misdeeds and incalculable human suffering, it’s the opportunity to use them to elucidate the times they’ve lived… so that we can better understand ourselves.

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